James Brasuell, AICP is the former editorial director of Planetizen and is now a senior public affairs specialist at the Southern California Association of Governments. James managed all editorial content and direction for Planetizen from 2014 to 2023, and was promoted from manging editor to editorial director in 2021. After a first career as a class five white water river guide in Trinity County in Northern California, James started his career in Los Angeles as a volunteer at a risk reduction center in Skid Row. Prior to joining Planetizen, James worked at the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design, as an editor at Curbed LA, as editor of The Planning Report, and as a freelance contributor for The Architect’s Newspaper, the Urban Land Institute – Los Angeles Chapter, FORM, KCET, and the California Planning & Development Report.
Gil Penalosa's 14-Point Prescription to Make St. Paul Great
Gil Penalosa was in the Twin Cities recently as part of the annual Placemaking Residency, convened by the Saint Paul Riverfront Corp. At the end of his stay, he prescribed 14 action points for Saint Paul.
Why School Integration Requires Neighborhood Integration
Emily Badger examines the role of housing segregation in obstructing the promise of Brown v. Board of Education.
The Case Against Bike Helmets
Should helmets be an optional accessory, rather than an absolute requirement? Or are helmets a sign of a culture not yet ready to embrace biking as a normal, safe activity?
The Need for Services for Denver's Suburban Homeless
Like in many other metro areas in the country, homelessness and poverty are spreading to the suburbs in Denver. And like in other suburban areas, homelessness hides better in the suburbs, so services can be scant for a problem that is large.
San Francisco Initiative Preempts Prop B—Asks Voters for Additional Height at Pier 70
Developer Forest City is getting a jump on the ballot box zoning trend in San Francisco. According to reports, the developer will go to the voters to ask for increased height for a large development at Pier 70 in the neighborhood known as Dogpatch.